September 20,9.45 am Arrival of the HOLY PATRIARCH at Nedumbassery International Airport, CochinThe Government of Kerala receives the Holy Patriarch of Antioch & all the East as the State GuestLeave for Cochin escorted by the Catholicose of India Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I and the Metropolitans of Malankara

September 22,11.00 am Visits the tomb of Mor Clemis Abraham, the L.L. Chief Metropolitan of the East at Chingavanam5.00 pm Visits the tombs of Patriarch St. Elias III, Mor Binyamin Joseph Mor Osthatheos and other Metropolitans at Majanikkara

September 24,9.30 am Consecration of the Church head quarters at Puthencuriz11.00 am Addresses the Jacobite Syrian Church Managing Committee at Puthencuriz4.00 pm Addresses the other church Committees like Sunday School association, EAE etc.5.30 pm Visits the tomb of L.L Catholicos of the East Mor Baselios Paulose II at Malecuriz Dayro7.00 pm Syrian Orthodox Theological Seminary at Udayagiri

September 25,

8.00 am Consecration of Holy Mooron1.00 pm Catholicate Cathedral at Kothamangalam4.00 pm Inauguration of the Church Dental College at Chelad5.30 pm Visits the institutions under the Mar Athanasius College Association

Hello i am new to this form .I am now in Boston USA on a business assignment.I am aged 25 and working as Software Engineer

I am a firm beleiver of antiorch and always goes to Manjanikkara to get blessings from the king of all jacobites in Kerala "moran mar ignatious III patriarch".

I really missed the oppertunity to see "the whole leader of our malankara sabha " - Ignatius Sakha IvanI even planned to drop my business trip here to come back to kerala and see him. Atleast my parents may be able to make it to see him!!

But though across millions of miles away i still searched for many news about his visit and almost all the news papers gave rich news in their front cover page itself. and these are the links to those news came out on "our Great Leader"s visit.

We are from Piravom Valiya palli - and are firm beleivers of antiorch like others there.

KOCHI, SEPT. 21. The scenic Marine Drive and an enthusiastic gathering of more than 50,000 people provided the perfect ambience to the beginning of the silver jubilee celebrations of the ordination of the head of the Universal Syrian Orthodox Church, the Patriarch of Antioch and all the East,Ignatius Zakka I Iwas.

Huge gathering

The faithful had begun to converge on the Marine Drive early in the afternoonfor the programme that began after 4 p. m. The huge canopy that was erected on the Marine Drive ground was overflowing with people eager to have a glimpse of the spiritual head of the Syrian Orthodox Church.

Dignitaries were taken to the dais, 10 feet high, with the help of an elevatoreven as the Patriarch arrived on a motorised chariot to spirited greetings fromthe faithful.

The meeting was inaugurated by the Chief Minister, Oommen Chandy, who said that he was happy and proud to be part of the celebrations. He recalled that the previous two visits of the Patriarch had raised a lot of heat and dust but after the visits they had died down.

Welcomed

Earlier, Joseph Gregorios, Metropolitan welcomed the gathering. Baseliose Thomas I, Catholicos, said in his presidential address that it was not to raisecontroversies or to make quarrels that such occasions should be used.

Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, head of the Syro-Malabar Church conveyed hisgreetings on behalf of the Catholic community in the State.

The Industries Minister, P. K. Kunhalikutty, the Minister for Fisheries, DominicPresentation, Sebastian Paul, MP; K. V. Thomas, T. M. Jacob and Saju Paul, MLAs; O. Rajagopal, former Union Minister of State for Railways; the UDF convener, P. P. Thankachan; the SNDP Yogam General Secretary Vellappally Natesan; Philip Mathew, chairman of the Press Trust of India and businessman, Yusuf Ali, were among those who participated in the public meeting.

PATHANAMTHITTA, SEPT. 22. The head of the Universal Syrian Orthodox Church and Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, Ignatius Zakka-I Iwas, has said that those who criticise the Holy Throne of Antioch are ``ignorant of their sins and follies and may God Almighty forgive them''.

The Patriarch was delivering the blessing speech at a public meeting held at the Manjanikara School grounds during his visit to the Manjanikkara Diara near here this afternoon.

He said the mission of the Church was service to humanity. The believers accorded a rousing reception to the Patriarch at the St. George Jacobite Church in Thiruvalla.

He was received at the Omalloor Cross when he, escorted by a motorcade, reached there around 5-30 p.m. Kaniyamparampil Kurien Cor-Episcopa garlanded the Patriarch and he was escorted to the Manjanikkara Diara by the Metropolitans, Markose Mar Koorilos and Youhanon Mar Militheos, later.

At the Manjanikkara Diara Church, he was received by Kuriakose Mar Eulios and Geevarghese Mar Divanaseus.

The Patriarch offered prayers at the tomb of St. Elias-III, Yakoob Mar Eulios and Benyamin Joseph Mar Osththeos.

A public meeting held at the Manjanikara school grounds was presided by the Catholicos Baselius Thomas-I.

The full-fledged Episcopal synod of the Malankara Jacobite Syrian church washeld here on Thursday in the presence of the Patriarch of Antioch, H.H Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka Iwas, after nearly 186 years.

The synod, held at St George Jacobite church at nearby Karingachira, wasattended by Catholicos Baselious Thomas I and 18 metropolitans. This was thefirst time in the recent history of the Malankara Church that the Synod wasmeeting in the presence of the Patriarch.

Briefing reporters on the synod deliberations in the presence of the Patriarch,synod secretary Joseph Mor Gregorius said that the Church would carry out itsexpansion with special emphasis on indigenization. ``The Church is already onthe path of Indianisation. But we want to accelerate the pace,'' he said.

As part of the Church's ``expansion project'', the synod also decided to set upmore dioceses, consecrate additional bishops and new churches would be set up outside Kerala and efforts would be made to translate the liturgical texts and rites in regional languages of other states. He said the church had lots offollowers in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and north India.

Another major decision was the declaration of the St Mary's Church at Mannarcadu as a pilgrim centre.

The synod also permitted the parishioners of St Thomas Jacobite Syrian Church,North Paravoor, and St George Church, Arthattu in Kunnamkulam to remember Abdul Jaleel Mor Gregorius and Sleeba Mor Osthathios respectively in their prayers. The names of both the departed spiritual heads were included in the`Thubdeen'(the episodes in the prayer which remembers the forefathers and the rich heritage of the Malankara Church) of the Jacobite Church.

On the disputed closed churches, the Patriarch said churches are for worship.Churches should be opened and followers of both the Orthodox and Jacobitefactions should be allowed to worship, he said. The court cases with regard to the disputes between the two factions should be freezed, he said.

The synod assumes importance in the light of the ongoing factional feud between the Jacobite and Orthodox factions of the Malankara church over several issues, including distribution of church properties.

In the morning, Patriarch declared the ancient St George Jacobite Syrian churchat Karingachira near Tripunithura here as Cathedral of the Jacobite Church.Established in AD 722, the St George church has witnessed several historicevents in the history of the Malankara Church. The late Geevarghese MorGregorius Metropolitan, popularly known as ‘Parumala Thirumeni’ ascended thefirst step of ordination at this church. The church structure is a perfect blendof Persian and Indian traditional architecture.

In the press conference the Patriarch said that his decision to declare StGeorge Jacobite Church as a cathedral would not amount to violation of theSupreme Court judgment. ``It is a spiritual matter. My act cannot be dubbed as a violation of the Supreme Court directives,'' His Holiness said.

Due to the trials and tribulations of the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church in the past century, the Church lacked a central facility to oversee the administration of its spiritual and temporal affairs. It became an absolute necessity for the Church in India to have a Headquarters Complex to fulfillthe various and manifold services and also for the effective and prompt functioning of its administrative system. For the hundreds of parish churches and about more than one million faithful, the head-quarters complex at Puthenkurishu in Ernakulam District, Kerala, is a long cherished dream.

H.H. Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I has blessed the site of the headquarters on April 9, 2000, during his second apostolic visit to Malankara. Now on His Holiness' third apostolic visit, the first phase of the complex will be consecrated. The Syrian Orthodox Church in India is greatly indebted to His Holiness for the Apostolic blessings and whole hearted support to constructthis dream project. We continue to beseech His Holiness's prayers and Apostolic blessings.

The first block of the Patriarchal Centre was consecrated on September 14, 2001, the Feast Day of the Holy Cross, by H.B. Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I (who was then the Catholicos-Designate), assisted by metropolitans Mor Philexinos Yuhanon, Mor Themotheos Thomas, Mor Polycarpos Geevarghese, Mor Gregorios Joseph, and Mor Ivanius Matthews

KOCHI, SEPT. 24. The St Mary's Soonoro Simhasana Church, Elamkulam, will be elevated to the status of a Cathedral on Sunday by the Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, head of the Universal Syrian Orthodox Church.

This comes close on the heels of the St. George's Jacobite Syrian Church, Karingachira being declared as a Cathedral by the Patriarch on Thursday. Addressing mediapersons here today, Kuriakose Mor Yuliose Metropolitan said thatthe 30-year-old church will be the third Cathedral under the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church.

Pontifical Cathedral

"It has members from different dioceses and can be called a Pontifical Cathedral, since it comes under the direct control of the Patriarch of Antioch. It will be the largest and most important place of worship of the diocese in Kochi city," he said.

"The church is all the more important since it has a piece of `Soonoro' (robe) of Virgin Mary. The present Patriarch had blessed the church in 1982 with the `Soonoro' status. The building will be converted into a much bigger one, following the elevation of the church into a Cathedral," he said.The land forthe church was donated free of cost by K. M. David of Ayyampilly. The church celebrates its feast in March, to remember the donation of `Soonoro'. Among Jacobite churches, the evening service was started for the first time in the St.Mary's Church. A residence for the Patriarch and a parish hall are ready near the church

In an atmosphere charged with prayers and hymns, theconsecration of myron (holy oil) was held at the ancient St ThomasChurch (Marthoma Cheria Palli) at Kothamangalam on Saturday.

Tens of thousands of Jacobite Church members thronged the churchpremises to witness the rare ritual.

Myron, the holy oil, is used to anoint persons receiving baptism bywater. It represents the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

The ritual, described as ``a great mystery'' in theological circlesand among the Fathers of Churches, was led by Patriarch of AntiochMar Ignatius Zakka I. The five-hour-long ritual was also aproclamation by the Syrian Jacobite Church reaffirming its faith onthe tradition of Antioch.

The consecration of myron was held in two phases. In the first, the`preparations' prior to the consecration was held. Recalling how Johnthe Baptist prepared the way for the coming of Jesus Christ, thedeacons and the priests took out a procession around the church.

The second procession consisted of deacons, priests, 12 metropolitansof the Church and the high priest (the Patriarch) with the holy oilin his hand.

The second stage of the ritual was the sanctification of the holy oilby offering special prayers. According to belief, the high priest,through his prayers, is expected to bring in all the dynamism of theHoly Spirit to the oil.

After the sanctification of the holy oil, the Patriarch blessed theworld by spraying it in four directions. As a fulfillment of thesacrament, Holy Qurbana by 13 celebrants was said at a specially setup 'madbaha' on the church premises.

It is after an interval of 22 years that consecration of Holy Myronis held in the Malankara Church. The ritual was last performed atManarcaud St Mary's church in 1982.

Catholicos Baselios Thomas I assisted the Patriarch in leading theritual.

The late Malankara Metropolitan Paulose Mor Koorilos will be canonised as Saint by the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church. The Synod convened at Karingachira Church in the presence of the Patriarch H.H. Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, ordered to start the process for this declaration.

The declaration is based on the believers’ witnessing of the miracles happened through the intercession of Mor Coorilos, who is entombed in Panampadi Martha Mariam Church. A special commission will study the witnesses and will give areport to the Episcopal Synod, who in turn will finally decide on the declaration.

Mor Koorilos, who born on 20th Vrichikam 1852, as the son of Mulanthuruthy Kandanad Thozhuppadan Kochuparambil Thomas, received his ordination as a deacon at the age of nine, from the then Antiochian representative Mor Euyakim Koorilos. He continued his syriac education under the Malpans PallithittaGeevarghese Kathanar and Koonappillil Geevarghese Kathanar.

Becoming a priest at the age of 16, his first Holy Qurbano was celebrated at the Kandanad Church. He became a Ramban at the age of 25 and given charge of the Vettikkal Dayara. He traveled to the Holy Lands along with Parumala Kochu Thirumeni and after his return, joined at the Old Seminary at Kottayam, when he was deputed to oversee the construction of Trivandrum St.George Church, by the then Malankara Metropolitan.

On 31st May 1908, Ramban Paulose was ordained as Bishop Paulose Mor Coorilose, along with Vattasseril Geevarghese Malapan, at Sehion malika in Jerusalem by the then Patriarch Abdoloho (Abdulla II). He continued the Church service along with the Late Michael Dionasius Metropolitan.

Mor Koorilose was commented for his simplicity and meekness as well as for his observance of lent, prayer and holding the true belief of the Syrian Church. In 1911, Mor Koorilos was selected as the Malankara Metropolitan at the JacobiteAssociation held at Aluva Thrukkunnathu Seminary, which was presided by the then Patriarch Abdoloho. On 14th December 1917, Mor Koorilose went to his heavenly abode and was entombed at Panampadi Church at Kottayam.

Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, the Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, now on a visit here, has called against the medical termination of pregnancy.

He was addressing the flock after prayers at the St. Mary's Jacobite Syrian church here this morning.

Terming abortion a sin, the Patriarch said the killing of unborn children was on the increase. He called upon all those who have been party to medical termination of pregnancy to repent and receive Eucharist as a means to cleanse themselves of the sin. http://www.hindu.com/2004/09/27/stories/2004092702690500.htm

Echoing the views of the Pope of the Catholic Church, Patriarch of Antioch Mar Ignatius Zakka I Iwas on Sunday came down heavily on abortion saying it was a crime committed by men and women.

In his speech declaring St Mary's Church at Manarcaud near here as a universal pilgrim centre and elevating it to the status of a cathedral, the Patriarch said mothers had a duty of offering babies to the world and grooming them in a good way and recalled that Virgin Mary was a role model for married and unmarried men and women.

Addressing followers on the church premises after the Sunday Holy Mass, the Patriarch said that the Syrian Church attached much importance to Virgin Mary and her intercession between God and believers.

The Manarcaud St Mary's Church had become a great pilgrim centre where thousands became blessed through prayers, the Patriarch said and added that the miracles performed by Virgin Mary here were uncountable. She was keeping the word of God and her life was a model for married and unmarried people, he added.

The Patriarch then declared the Manarcaud church as a universal pilgrim centre and elevated it as a cathedral amid chants of `let Antioch-Malankara ties last for ever' by thousands of church followers.

The Patriarch's speech was conspicuous by the absence of any reference to the ongoing feud in the Malankara Church, in spite of the fact that the headquarters of the Orthodox Syrian Church is here.

Thanking the declaration on the Manarcaud church, Catholicos Baselius Thomas I said that the Jacobite Church submitted itself to the Throne of Antioch with respect, obedience and allegiance of faith.

The criticism by the Catholicos Baselios Marthoma Mathews II of the Orthodox Church against the Patriarch was like asking the latter to move from the seat of God to that of Satan, he said. The Catholicos was speaking as if some evil spirit had entered him, he said, but cautioned church followers not to ridicule the Orthodox faction under any provocation.

Earlier in the day, the Patriarch offered the Holy Mass with the assistance of Baselius Thomas I, other bishops of the Jacobite Church and the Knanaya Metropolitan. Mar Athanasios Eliya Bahi, secretary to the Patriarch, Pathros Mar Silvianos (Holms) and Malki Mar Milithios (Australia) also participated.

This was the second time the Patriarch was visiting the Manarcaud church. The last one was during his India visit in 1982.

The late Malankara Metropolitan Paulose Mor Koorilos will be canonised as Saint by the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church.

For something like 1900 years, our Church in India had no canonised native saints, and then came Mar Gregorios of Parumala. Now, in the first years of the new millenium, and in a time of conflict in the Church in India, both sides are canonising dead bishops left and right. Why the rush to canonise all of a sudden? I can't help but wonder if both sides are not canonising saints as much as merely creating more heroes for their causes.

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Echoing the views of the Pope of the Catholic Church, Patriarch of Antioch Mar Ignatius Zakka I Iwas on Sunday came down heavily on abortion saying it was a crime committed by men and women.

[sarcasm]Geez, I hope our Indian Orthodox people don't see this and start supporting abortion, thinking that it is the true Orthodox faith, whereas the Jacobites are merely going along with another teaching of the Roman Popes.[/sarcasm]

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The criticism by the Catholicos Baselios Marthoma Mathews II of the Orthodox Church against the Patriarch was like asking the latter to move from the seat of God to that of Satan, he said. The Catholicos was speaking as if some evil spirit had entered him, he said, but cautioned church followers not to ridicule the Orthodox faction under any provocation.

I'm presuming H.B. Catholicos Baselios Thomas I said this, since the Patriarch's speech allegedly had no reference to the conflict. I am having a hard time seeing the purpose of, on the one hand, ridiculing the Catholicos of the East (and I'm not sure I agree with his alleged stance on the Patriarch's visit, although I've only heard the Jacobite version of this story, and don't know what the Orthodox version is) and, on the other hand, instructing the people not to ridicule the Orthodox. I would think it much better to not refer to it at all, following the example of H.H. the Patriarch.

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The Patriarch of Antioch & All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syrian Orthodox Church, H.H. Ignatius Zakka I Iwas were accorded a royal welcome at the Indian Capital Delhi. After completing H.H.’s visit to Kerala, the Patriarch arrived at Delhi, along with the Catholicose H.B. Baselious Thomas I.

The Church leaders received the Patriarch and the accompanying delegation at Delhi airport. In the evening, a public reception meeting was held at Thalkatora indoor stadium and the Patriarch was taken there in an open vehicle in a traditional procession, accompanied by people carrying Muthukuda, music bands etc. Thousands of people thronged the sides of the route to see a glimpseof the visiting dignitary. Upon arrival at the indoor stadium, a traditional Kerala style welcome with ‘Thalappoli’ was accorded to the Patriarch.

The choir group of St. Peter’s Cathedral Church leads the welcome song in Syriac. It was the third visit of His Holiness to India, after consecrated as the Patriarch of the Universal Syrian Orthodox Church.

In his opening felicitation address the Union Minister H.E. P.M. Sayed noted that each visit of the spiritual leader would strengthen the ties with his people in India. He also praised the assistance of different Christian Churchesin India’s development endeavors.

“Peace is the essence of all religion. Those who propagate violence and hatred among people are destroying the religion and the society”, the minister pointed out. He also wished that the visit of the Patriarch would strengthen the peace and spirit of co-existence in the society.

Today (29 Sept) morning the Patriarch will celebrate the Holy Qurbono and Mooron consecration of St. Peter’s Cathedral Church. Tomorrow after visiting the Raj Ghat, the eternal rest place of Mahatma Gandhi, the Patriarch will plant a tree there.

Oh, OK. I'm not used to calling the consecration of a church "Mooron Consecration". It is usually assumed that when a church is consecrated, Mooron is used, so I didn't think immediately that it could have been that. Thanks for the clarification.

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Mor no longer posts on OCNet. He follows threads, posts his responses daily, occasionally starts threads, and responds to private messages when and as he wants. But he really isn't around anymore.